U.S. Attorney Kenneth Polite announced that MICHAEL MENDEZ of Houston, Texas, age 52, was sentenced today after having previously pled guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine hydrochloride (“powder cocaine").
U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey sentenced MENDEZ to 60 months in prison, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release.
According to court records, on June 10, 2015, Louisiana State Police conducted a traffic stop of MENDEZ as he was driving east on Interstate 12 in Tangipahoa Parish. During the stop, police discovered over thirteen kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride hidden inside of a “trap" compartment underneath the body of the car and a loaded 9 millimeter Glock pistol on the front-passenger seat.
U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Louisiana State Police in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Brandon S. Long is responsible for the prosecution.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
